tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40566528577228425162018-03-07T16:50:23.224-07:00MYRIAD SPHERESMichael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.comBlogger211125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-66579443164928776232017-05-12T10:46:00.000-07:002017-05-12T11:02:00.150-07:00Character-Naming Contest!<div style="text-align: justify;">Hello, all! I'm about to begin writing <i>The Lion's Crypt</i>, the second book of The Emberlyn Chronicles, and I'm looking for some great character names! It's a fantasy series, so keep that in mind.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rules:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Names must end with either a "c," a "k," or a "ck." They are intended to be male names.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. They shouldn't sound too Vulcan; after I came up with my loose rules for the language, I realized that Vulcan names generally end in "c" or "k," so I've been trying to avoid anything that sounds too similar.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. You may submit up to three names. I need some evil-sounding names among them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here are some names used in <i>The Lion's Crown</i>, to give you a feel for what I'm looking for: Faric, Braedok, Karak, Lanioc, Dourok.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Prize: If I use one of your names, it will appear in&nbsp;<i>The Lion's Crypt</i>&nbsp;and/or the third book of the series, <i>The Lion's Court</i>. You will also receive an ebook copy of the book(s) your name appears in and a mention in the acknowledgements section of the book(s).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Submit your answers and any questions to authormkrose@gmail.com with "Naming Contest" in the subject line. If you've yet to read <i>The Lion's Crown</i>, you can get your copy <a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr27" target="_blank">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This contest ends May 31, 2017.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VfFXYSeumY/WP-Ij7rQmoI/AAAAAAAABl4/zH50x0svpK8U5vee74KO6Rom1YnMsBCNQCPcB/s1600/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2BAd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VfFXYSeumY/WP-Ij7rQmoI/AAAAAAAABl4/zH50x0svpK8U5vee74KO6Rom1YnMsBCNQCPcB/s400/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2BAd1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-82474004959312513602017-05-05T20:47:00.000-07:002017-05-05T20:47:22.873-07:00Sale & Free Ebooks, May 6-12<div style="text-align: justify;">Beginning on May 6, I'm having a sale on eight of my titles! Three of them will be completely free, and the others five will be just 99 cents! Click on any title below to get your ebook copies from Amazon.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><h3 style="text-align: center;">FREE:&nbsp;<i><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr10" target="_blank">Sullivan's War</a></i>&nbsp;(The Sullivan Saga Book 1)<br />99¢:&nbsp;<i><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr11" target="_blank">Sullivan's Wrath</a></i>&nbsp;(The Sullivan Saga Book 2)<br />99¢:&nbsp;<i><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr12" target="_blank">Sullivan's Watch</a></i>&nbsp;(The Sullivan Saga Book 3)<br />FREE:&nbsp;<i><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr13" target="_blank">Sullivan's Blood</a></i>&nbsp;(The Sullivan Saga Book 4)</h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br />FREE:&nbsp;<i><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr18" target="_blank">The City Beyond the Sands</a></i>&nbsp;(The Strange Lands Saga Book 1)<br />99¢:&nbsp;<i><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr19" target="_blank">Riders of the Red Land</a></i>&nbsp;(The Strange Lands Saga Book 2)<br />99¢:&nbsp;<i><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr20" target="_blank">The Sea Dragons</a></i>&nbsp;(The Strange Lands Saga Book 3)</h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><br />99¢:&nbsp;<i><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr22" target="_blank">Provocation</a></i></h3><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sale details:&nbsp;<i>Sullivan's War,&nbsp;</i><i>Sullivan's Blood&nbsp;</i>and<i>&nbsp;</i><i>The City Beyond the Sands&nbsp;</i>are free May 6-10.<i>&nbsp;</i><i>Sullivan's Wrath</i>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<i>Sullivan's Watch&nbsp;</i>are<i>&nbsp;</i>99¢/£0.99 May 6-10 at Amazon.com and Amazon UK only.&nbsp;<i>Riders of the Red Land,</i>&nbsp;<i>The Sea Dragons</i>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<i>Provocation&nbsp;</i>are&nbsp;99¢/£0.99 May 6-12 at Amazon.com and Amazon UK only.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgQ052sp4mo/WQtdEmSpTGI/AAAAAAAABmQ/3qtpo4RbjoALjpQI5Fea24Ina7zOKA2mACLcB/s1600/Sullivan%2BSaga%2BPoster%2Bwith%2Btext.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgQ052sp4mo/WQtdEmSpTGI/AAAAAAAABmQ/3qtpo4RbjoALjpQI5Fea24Ina7zOKA2mACLcB/s400/Sullivan%2BSaga%2BPoster%2Bwith%2Btext.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-28243918641899337942017-05-04T11:04:00.000-07:002017-05-04T11:04:34.613-07:00Book Signing May 25-28 at Phoenix Comicon!<div style="text-align: justify;">Authors Alexia Purdy, Jenna Elizabeth Johnson, Katie Salidas, David Jones and I will be attending Phoenix Comicon! Come by and say hello; we'll be giving away prizes and signing books all weekend long!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Find us at Booth #696 on the main exhibitor floor.<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/201552053693476/" target="_blank">Facebook Event Page</a></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://phoenixcomicon.com/" target="_blank">Purchase Tickets to Phoenix Comicon</a></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGRyDDu-n8E/WQttD3XBX9I/AAAAAAAABnE/ERpUEuMPpE01zi4oV0WT8H-Mp0RA74KeACLcB/s1600/18275230_1332935520108144_3093470776631898310_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gGRyDDu-n8E/WQttD3XBX9I/AAAAAAAABnE/ERpUEuMPpE01zi4oV0WT8H-Mp0RA74KeACLcB/s400/18275230_1332935520108144_3093470776631898310_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-60513241987909613182017-04-28T08:57:00.000-07:002017-04-28T08:57:14.793-07:00The World of The Lion's Crown<div style="text-align: justify;">Up until this point, I've primary written science fiction, but fantasy and science fiction are two genres that have become closely associated despite their apparent differences. This is because they are "speculative fiction," a term that encompasses any tale that takes place in a world that is not our own, whether that be a future in which technology has progressed beyond or to the limits of what is currently possible, a past in which things did not unfold as history describes, or a completely made-up fictional world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The Lion's Crown&nbsp;</i>(<a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr27" target="_blank">Amazon link</a>), the first book of The Emberlyn Chronicles, takes place in the last of these settings, as does much "high" or "epic" fantasy. Today I'd like to share with you some details of that world without, I hope, revealing too many spoilers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJXf81aEUao/WPrYuj38-AI/AAAAAAAABjk/3TfIpD3OSr8ofsRo8xnm_nhqCNBj3tIVwCPcB/s1600/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2Bebook%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VJXf81aEUao/WPrYuj38-AI/AAAAAAAABjk/3TfIpD3OSr8ofsRo8xnm_nhqCNBj3tIVwCPcB/s320/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2Bebook%2Bcover.jpg" width="199" /></a>Let's begin with "Earth" as it exists in The Emberlyn Chronicles. What makes the setting unique is the presence of the Hobswood, a vast, nearly impenetrable forest in the center of the landmass that the characters call home. It lies between the kingdoms of Emberlyn and Gronstave--frequent enemies who currently recognize an uneasy truce--and it is completely ringed by a dark, forbidding swamp. This is the Bleaklands, and the peasants who live along its edge are called Bleaklanders. They scrape together a meager living by working the land--which is owned by local lords--and digging peat from the bog, which is used as fuel and sold to merchants traveling the Peat Road, which runs from the major cities of Emberlyn to the villages along the Bleaklands.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The characters who go in to explore the Hobswood all come from the Kingdom of Emberlyn. It is named for the Ember Lion, a legendary creature that the royal family believes was responsible for their ancestor's victory which united the warring Eastern Kingdoms into one country. Emberlyn's capital, Granisle, is dominated by the castle that sits on an island at the confluence of two rivers, the Stout and the Deerford. To the east is the Oulfeist Sea, and what lies beyond it is a mystery.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The great Hobswood Forest covers much of the eastward-jutting peninsula that Emberlyn sits upon. To the west of the forest is the Kingdom of Gronstave. While Gronstave is mentioned only in passing in&nbsp;<i>The Lion's Crown</i>, it will come to play a more important role in the sequels,&nbsp;<i>The Lion's Crypt</i>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<i>The Lion's Court</i>. To the west and south of Gronstave are desert and jungle lands. If Emberlyn and Gronstave can be understood as "European," these lands are roughly analogous to Africa and the Middle East. There is some contact and trade with the people who live there, but little is truly known of the cultures and civilizations in these lands.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, concerning the Hobswood Forest itself. The interior is a mystery at the beginning of the novel, and I don't want to reveal too much; I think it will be more fun for readers to make those discoveries along with the characters. What I will say is that there are people in the Hobswood, but they are unlike those who live outside the forest. They have been embroiled in a generations-long war, and it doesn't take long for the book's protagonists to get caught up in the conflict. The forest is also home to the Ember Lion, which our main characters discover is much more than a myth.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The characters who make up the expedition are:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Penelope "Penny" Blackmoor</b>&nbsp;- a Bleaklander living along the edges of the bog.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Sir William Carlyle</b>&nbsp;- a knight, the leader of the expedition.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Owen Blackmoor</b>&nbsp;- Penny's brother, who went into the Hobswood as a child. He returned after two weeks, but he came back a "fool," as the Bleaklanders say. Even though he is now an adult, he appears to have the mind of a child. As the only living person to enter the Hobswood and return, he has been ordered to accompany the knights. Given his condition, Penny refuses to let him go unless she can also join them.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>George Ashberry</b>&nbsp;- A Bleaklander in love with Penny. When he learns Penny and Owen are joining the expedition, he convinces Sir William to let him also go along.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Sir Harold Swift, Sir Stephen Laurenge, Sir Alfred Pierce</b>&nbsp;- the other knights accompanying Sir William.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are more key characters you'll meet once the explorers enter the Hobswood, but I can't say too much about them without giving away spoilers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">You'll learn much of this information while reading&nbsp;<i>The Lion's Crown</i>, but I hope that this little primer about the world of the story will help cement some of the settings in your mind. I drew a crude map for my own purposes, but it's not very presentable. At some point I'll create one I can share with you all.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Until Next Time!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Michael K. Rose<br /><h3><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr27" target="_blank">Click here to order The Lion's Crown from Amazon.</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">It's just 99¢ through the end of April!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VfFXYSeumY/WP-Ij7rQmoI/AAAAAAAABl4/zH50x0svpK8U5vee74KO6Rom1YnMsBCNQCPcB/s1600/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2BAd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VfFXYSeumY/WP-Ij7rQmoI/AAAAAAAABl4/zH50x0svpK8U5vee74KO6Rom1YnMsBCNQCPcB/s400/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2BAd1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></h3></div><div><br /></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-89811961919267093072017-04-26T12:46:00.000-07:002017-04-26T12:46:28.815-07:00The Lion's Crown: An Excerpt<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VfFXYSeumY/WP-Ij7rQmoI/AAAAAAAABl4/zH50x0svpK8U5vee74KO6Rom1YnMsBCNQCPcB/s1600/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2BAd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VfFXYSeumY/WP-Ij7rQmoI/AAAAAAAABl4/zH50x0svpK8U5vee74KO6Rom1YnMsBCNQCPcB/s400/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2BAd1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The following is an excerpt from my new fantasy novel,&nbsp;<i>The Lion's Crown</i>&nbsp;(<a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr27" target="_blank">Amazon link</a>). Sir William Carlyle and his companions have been tasked with exploring the mysterious Hobswood Forest. The party has crossed through the Bleaklands, the bog that rings the forest, and have made camp for their first night inside the wood.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wraith Smoke</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Sir William let out a puzzled grunt. He reached forward to stoke the fire but paused. He was looking beyond it and beyond Sir Alfred, who was sitting opposite him. “A lurking shadow,” he whispered. “The wraith!”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Everyone but Owen sprang to their feet. Swords were drawn, but William was at the pile of packs. He pulled out the torches and tossed them to the others. They lit the torches in the fire, but before anyone could act, the dark shape swept toward them. Sir Alfred yelled out as it whipped by him, but his torch was already lit. He lashed out, and the flame licked at the edge of the shadow.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A scream like wind rushing through a cavern pierced their ears. The wraith dashed past them and up onto the boulder. It glided across the rock and down into the ravine beyond.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The four knights stood with their torches held aloft, facing the boulder. George armed himself with a brand from the fire and pushed Penny and Owen back behind him.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“If we can’t kill it,” Sir William said grimly, “then we can’t sleep. It could return at any time during the night.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">They spread out in a circle around the fire and stood silently, watching and waiting. Minutes passed without anything happening, but the second their guard began to slack, the thing rushed out from the trees on one side of their camp. Again it charged by them, seemingly trying to graze them without getting caught by one of the torches. But as it whipped past George, he flung his burning stick toward it. The brand hit the wraith squarely and passed through it, but another chilling scream told them it had been injured. It sped around the camp in a circle, making quick, jerky advances ever few seconds. Sir Stephen cried out as it touched his leg, but he was able to graze it with his torch before it could dart away again. He fell to one knee but he kept his torch at the ready as he rubbed his calf where the wraith had stung him.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Again and again, the wraith tried to graze them, and even though Harold, George and William each also suffered the thing’s touch, they were able to retaliate every time.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The wraith’s dizzying rush began to slow, and as it made one final advance toward Sir William, he brought his torch down like a headsman’s axe.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The burning end of the torch seemed to pin the wraith to the ground, and as it flailed, William took several more stinging touches before it finally fell still.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">William collapsed onto the ground next to the wraith. His forehead was glistening with sweat, and his face was twisted in agony.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“Is it dead?” Harold called, hobbling over.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">William poked at the wraith with his torch. It didn’t flinch. “I believe so.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">They all gathered around the thing for a better look. Its edges were indistinct, but the body was roughly diamond shaped. A wispy tail trailed behind it, but they couldn’t make out any eyes, mouth or limbs. Without it moving, it was almost impossible to see. It was a shadow on the ground, nothing more, and Penny had to fight an impulse to look around for the real creature that was casting that shadow.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">As they studied it, the wraith began to thin. The shadow grew lighter, and a moment later it dissipated as a breeze blew across the camp. It drifted away like smoke, and they were left staring at an empty patch of ground.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“By the lion’s tail,” Sir Alfred muttered.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Sir Stephen turned away and looked into the dark forest. “Do you suppose this is the same one that attacked us at the village?”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">William shrugged. “That wraith did escape across the bog.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“But how many of them could there be?” Stephen asked. “The forest could be thick with them for all we know.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“Sir William?” George said.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“Yes?”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“Penny and I have lived on the edge of the Bleaklands all our lives. If there were many such things, I believe they would be encountered much more often. Until the recent attacks at the village, wraiths were only known from ancient stories.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">William stood up from his kneeling position. “I hope you’re right. Still, there are six of us who can stand watch. Two of us will be on guard at all times. I will stand the first watch with… Penny.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The others mumbled their agreement and rounded the fire back to the bedrolls lined up along the base of the boulder. George gave Penny a light kiss before he left, and she blushed as she glanced over at Sir William.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">William extinguished the torches with a thick cone of stiff leather but kept them nearby, ready to be relit. He sat down on the side of the fire opposite the boulder. “Back to back,” he said to Penny. “We can lean against one another so we don’t get too many aches.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">She sat behind him, facing away. “Why not just lean against a pack?”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“This way one of us will know if the other begins to fall asleep. And since we can feel each other moving, that will help keep us alert.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Penny felt strange with Sir William’s back pressed against hers, but after a few minutes her discomfort subsided. The warmth was reassuring. She felt him fumbling with something, and a moment later it was pressed against her arm.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“Here, take it,” he said.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">She reached around and took the object with her other hand. It was Sir William’s knife. She slid it out of the leather scabbard and looked at the blade. “But wraiths aren’t hurt by weapons,” she said.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“No, but wraiths aren’t the only thing to be concerned about.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">She felt stupid for not thinking of that and was glad Sir William wasn’t able to see her blush. “Of course,” she said. She looked across the fire at George. “Sir William, why did you choose me to keep watch with you?”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“I wanted to speak with you.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“What about?”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">She heard William take a breath. “I wanted to say that I am sorry.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“Sorry?”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“For forcing Owen to come with us. Only I had my king’s order….”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“I know.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“And we must be able to rely on one another, yes?”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“Yes.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“So I hope we can be friends. Neither you nor George has done or said anything to concern me, but I do have to be able to trust you both. With my life. If there is any resentment, I hope you’d let me know now. We could talk it over and come to an understanding.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Penny leaned her head back to look at the sky but straightened her neck again as the back of her head pressed against William’s. “Perhaps you won’t understand this,” she said, “but people like us… George and me… we’re used to having no say in what happens to us. The lord who owns our village is a good man, and for that we are fortunate, but we must still obey him without question. So when you, a knight, comes and says something must be done… well, it must be done.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“I do not want you to see me like that,” William said quietly. “And my life is no different, whatever you may think. When my king commands me to do something, I must do it. My life is not my own either.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“But you, in turn, can command others. Even your fellow knights must follow your orders, as you’ve been put in charge by the king. I command no one.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“Owen does what you tell him.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“That’s not the same. He’s older than me and a man. If he were normal….” She let the thought go.</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“I understand,” he said. “And I am sorry. Please don’t see me as the one who commands you. Let us be friends.”</div></div><div style="padding: 0em; text-align: start; text-indent: 1.3em;"><div style="text-align: justify;">“Friends,” Penny said. She looked left then right, scanning what could be seen in the ring of light cast by the fire.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><h3 style="text-align: center;"><i>The Lion's Crown</i>&nbsp;is only 99¢ through the end of April!<br /><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr27" target="_blank">Click here to get your copy from Amazon!</a></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4faAZmIFlto/WP-Ir-UVIDI/AAAAAAAABl4/kB0UsYbn5YQHrYDCN9UcpgYu0ri7Pe81wCPcB/s1600/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2Bebook%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4faAZmIFlto/WP-Ir-UVIDI/AAAAAAAABl4/kB0UsYbn5YQHrYDCN9UcpgYu0ri7Pe81wCPcB/s640/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2Bebook%2Bcover.jpg" width="398" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-73041681340833685462017-04-25T10:37:00.001-07:002017-04-25T10:39:26.791-07:00New Release: The Lion's Crown<div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VfFXYSeumY/WP-Ij7rQmoI/AAAAAAAABlw/_62JjciiPdMx_wO1ukYCn1m2NL003bJ6QCLcB/s1600/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2BAd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5VfFXYSeumY/WP-Ij7rQmoI/AAAAAAAABlw/_62JjciiPdMx_wO1ukYCn1m2NL003bJ6QCLcB/s400/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2BAd1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Hello, all. After writing twelve novels in the science fiction and paranormal genres, I am pleased to announce that my first fantasy novel,&nbsp;<i>The Lion's Crown</i>, is now available! I've wanted to write fantasy for a while now and have started and stopped a few projects. Those others aren't necessarily abandoned, this is just the first fantasy project to come to fruition.<br /><br />I haven't given up with science fiction either, for those of you who prefer that genre. I have a couple of ideas swimming around and may even be collaborating on a project with an author friend. Stay tuned for updates!<br /><br />In the meantime, I hope you'll check out&nbsp;<i>The Lion's Crown</i>. It's the first book of a trilogy called&nbsp;<b>The Emberlyn Chronicles</b>, and I'm extremely pleased with how it turned out. Thanks to Alexia Purdy for the great cover!<br /><br /><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr27" target="_blank">Click here to order&nbsp;<i>The Lion's Crown</i>&nbsp;from Amazon.</a></b></h3><h3 style="text-align: center;"><b>It's just&nbsp;99¢ through the end of the month!</b></h3><br />For thousands of years, the Hobswood Forest has repelled all attempts to uncover its secrets. Few have entered, and even fewer have returned.<br /><br />Now the king of Emberlyn has organized a new expedition into the wood, and as the explorers battle dark creatures and are drawn into a generations-long war, they will also encounter the most powerful entity to ever stalk the forest: the Ember Lion.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;"><i>The Lion’s Crown</i>&nbsp;is the first book of&nbsp;</span>The Emberlyn Chronicles<span style="font-weight: normal;">, an epic tale of magic, war and love.</span></div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></div><div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="font-size: medium; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4faAZmIFlto/WP-Ir-UVIDI/AAAAAAAABl0/_qJWM3GRH6UB884yDxdGJA8x8g1BJBf0ACLcB/s1600/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2Bebook%2Bcover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4faAZmIFlto/WP-Ir-UVIDI/AAAAAAAABl0/_qJWM3GRH6UB884yDxdGJA8x8g1BJBf0ACLcB/s640/The%2BLion%2527s%2BCrown%2Bebook%2Bcover.jpg" width="396" /></a></div><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div></h2>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-80248155362616254632017-04-05T09:25:00.001-07:002017-04-05T09:25:38.540-07:00A Plague of Dragons: Jenna Elizabeth Johnson<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Hello, and welcome to the final interview with my fellow&nbsp;<i>A Plague of Dragons</i>&nbsp;<span style="text-align: justify;">(</span><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr31" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Kindle link</a><span style="text-align: justify;">) authors! Please welcome <a href="http://www.jennaelizabethjohnson.com/" target="_blank">Jenna Elizabeth Johnson</a>! Her story in the anthology is called <i>Flame and Form</i>.</span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>* * *</i></b></div><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTdGEoA9Ba0/WN_oyCvd2rI/AAAAAAAABiM/hvrRm-Z-n9skV9dwHZTIwdqO2zgOs0xnQCPcB/s1600/A%2BPlague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTdGEoA9Ba0/WN_oyCvd2rI/AAAAAAAABiM/hvrRm-Z-n9skV9dwHZTIwdqO2zgOs0xnQCPcB/s320/A%2BPlague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BSM.jpg" width="199" /></a><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>Tell me a bit about your story.</i></b></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><i>Flame and Form</i> tells the story of Brienne, a Faelorehn woman from the Otherworld, and Dorran, a draghan shape-shifter from Firiehn, a neighboring realm.&nbsp; Brienne is on the run, having recently escaped a life of slavery from the Morrigan, the Celtic goddess of war.&nbsp; While passing through a small town, she gets the opportunity to help a captured draghan.&nbsp; Knowing the creature will probably end up in the Morrigan’s hands, she sets aside her own plans of escape in order to take the draghan out of the reach of its tormentors.&nbsp; It isn’t too long, however, before Brie discovers this draghan is really cru-athru, a man of Firiehn who can take draghan form.&nbsp; This story began as a retelling of <i>Beauty and the Beast</i> (a favorite tale of mine), but soon started to develop its own personality.&nbsp; There are still the common themes of a man taking beast form, and looking past the outer self and seeing the beauty within, but <i>Flame and Form</i> also introduces elements from my Otherworld universe as well.&nbsp; <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>Dragons are inherently magical; they cannot exist in nature. That being said, did you give any consideration to natural or physical limitations when you were dreaming up your dragons? Why or why not?</i></b></div><div style="font-weight: bold; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The setting of my story is a land rich in magic, so it wasn’t a far leap for me to incorporate a magical creature.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The people of the Otherworld and Firiehn have glamour, fae magic, and can utilize it in different ways.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Dorran, my dragon character, uses his magic to take draghan form and breathe fire.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Despite the fact that my characters wield and use magic as part of their natural existence, there are limits to how much they can use and if they use too much, they need to rest and recharge before they are at their best once again.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>How many average-sized adult sheep do you think the dragons in your story would have to consume per day?</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-weight: bold; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Unfortunately, Dorran, my dragon character, isn’t a huge dragon.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">When he is in his beast form, he’s about the size of a Clydesdale or Shire horse.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">So I would say, if he were to stumble upon a hillside full of sheep on an empty stomach, he might be able to consume one of them.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Though, I bet he’d be too stuffed to take flight afterward for at least an hour.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>The dragons in your story are shapeshifters. In many shapeshifter stories, people lose their humanity while in their animal forms; werewolf tales are a well-known example of this. Do your dragons retain all aspects of their humanity when in dragon form?</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">This is a good question, and the way I usually approach characters in my stories who have the ability to shapeshift is that they retain enough of their humanity not to go entirely feral.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I like the idea of the animal side of them lending their sharpened instincts to either form (because if they don’t go a bit wild, what’s the point of turning into an animal?).</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">In </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Flame and Form</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, my shifter characters take on all the aspects of being large, fire-breathing reptiles.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">They are fierce, they are strong, they are naturally graceful.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">They recognize the human (or in my case, Faelorehn) woman who is their friend, but they also have no trouble identifying the enemy and treating them as such.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I didn’t spend a lot of time on this subject in </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Flame and Form</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, but I do hope to explore it further in future books.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>Tell me about some of the other dragon stories you’ve written.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I have one other series that directly features dragons as important characters, and that is my </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Legend of Oescienne</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> series.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The Oescienne books are appropriate for younger readers (10 years old and up) and they tell the story of a human infant found and raised by dragons in a world where her kind no longer exist.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The dragons in this series are highly intelligent and capable of speech (in fact, Hroombra, the dragon mentor to my girl hero, Jahrra, was responsible for tutoring the human children of the royal family from long ago).</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">This series is an epic fantasy adventure along the lines of </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Lord of the Rings</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Harry Potter</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, and </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Eragon</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">There are currently four full-length novels and one short story collection in the </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Legend of Oescienne</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">series, with the fifth and final book in the works.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The titles of the books are </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The Finding (Book 1)</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The Beginning (Book 2)</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The Awakening (Book 3)</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The Ascending (Book 4)</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, and </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Tales of Oescienne</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The Finding</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> has recently been made available in audio format.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>Will there be a sequel to </i>Flame and Form<i>?</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Yes!</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I have this terrible habit where, if I start a shiny new story, it usually decides to grow into something larger than a single book.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I do have plans to write at least two follow-up novellas to take place after </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Flame and Form</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">No set publication dates yet, but hopefully one or both of them will be out before the end of the year.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">It all depends on how busy my other writing projects keep me.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>If you could take one of your characters to a book event to help you sell books, who would it be and why?</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I’ll go ahead and pick someone from </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Flame and Form</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> since this book is the one featured in the new anthology, </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">A Plague of Dragons</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Let’s see… I would bring all my characters if I could, and although I think Mynne (Brienne’s blind, spirit guide wolf) would be a fun addition to any event, I’m going to have to go with Dorran.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">In his Firiehn form, he’s a ruggedly handsome, tall, dark-haired, flame-eyed man; a warrior from a realm of magic.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I mean, who wouldn’t want to wander over and get a picture with him?</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">And if he wasn’t impressive enough in his more human form, he could shift into draghan form.</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">A soot black draghan the size of a large horse who happens to breathe turquoise fire?</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp; </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Yeah, if I was attending a book event, that would DEFINITELY get my attention.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">* * *</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">To check out&nbsp;<i>A Cold Fire&nbsp;</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">plus five more dragon tales, get your copy of&nbsp;</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">A Plague of Dragons</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">! It's just 99 cents for a limited time!</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: start;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;">Kindle:&nbsp;<a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr31" target="_blank">http://smarturl.it/mkr31</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;">Nook:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/2lninBX" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lninBX</a><br /><span style="text-indent: 0in;">Kobo:&nbsp;</span><a href="http://bit.ly/2lpb3F9" style="text-indent: 0in;" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lpb3F9</a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">iBooks:</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://apple.co/2lluWuf" style="text-indent: 0in;" target="_blank">http://apple.co/2lluWuf</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDcYkbk1Hfc/WOUX9IbQmOI/AAAAAAAABi8/7IRGhNDoIUg_5adBSdzJQ-1SMUVJSjuaACLcB/s1600/Plague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BAD%2BRed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDcYkbk1Hfc/WOUX9IbQmOI/AAAAAAAABi8/7IRGhNDoIUg_5adBSdzJQ-1SMUVJSjuaACLcB/s400/Plague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BAD%2BRed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div></div></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-21576747155379745652017-04-04T12:00:00.000-07:002017-04-04T12:00:43.247-07:00A Plague of Dragons: Jason LaVelle<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Today I continue my interviews with my fellow&nbsp;<i>A Plague of Dragons</i>&nbsp;<span style="text-align: justify;">(</span><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr31" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Kindle link</a><span style="text-align: justify;">) authors! Next up is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Jason-LaVelle/e/B00GW3IG3W" target="_blank">Jason LaVelle</a>,</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;here to talk about his story,<i> A Cold Fire</i>.&nbsp;</span></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">* * *</span></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTdGEoA9Ba0/WN_oyCvd2rI/AAAAAAAABiM/hvrRm-Z-n9skV9dwHZTIwdqO2zgOs0xnQCPcB/s1600/A%2BPlague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTdGEoA9Ba0/WN_oyCvd2rI/AAAAAAAABiM/hvrRm-Z-n9skV9dwHZTIwdqO2zgOs0xnQCPcB/s320/A%2BPlague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BSM.jpg" width="199" /></a><b><i>Dragons are inherently magical; they cannot exist in nature. That being said, did you give any consideration to natural or physical limitations when you were dreaming up your dragons? Why or why not?<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">I think the idea has always been that because dragons are magical, they cannot exist in nature, that they can’t be real. That seems like a reasonable, adult idea, but I challenge you with this question: Is there anything that exists in nature, that lives either among us or in some faraway place that isn’t powered by some kind of ‘magic’?<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Are there any plants or creatures on this earth that were not created by ‘magic’? You yourself, humanity, are we not the product of some kind of ‘divine magic’ or science that cannot be explained Everything on our planet, and in fact, life itself is magical, and I’m not talking about some hippy-dippy bologna, I’m talking about the very mechanics of how life works – we know a heart pumps blood, we know a lung draws air, we know a brain sends and interprets electrical impulses that control everything from motor functions to our thoughts and memories, but what actually breathes ‘life’ into life? It’s magic! Something we will never understand but that exists nonetheless.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">So, do dragons exist? I have no idea! Could they exist? Of course! Just because something is ‘magical,’ and we haven’t seen it yet, doesn’t mean it isn’t still out there, waiting to be discovered… or perhaps, avoiding discovery.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">The dragons in my story are not so different from us, they have hopes and fears, they experience pain and they feel joy. In their human forms they have the same physical limitations as we do, and while in dragon form, they have a completely different set of physiological traits. Even when writing in a fantasy world, I try to give my characters the dignity and respect they deserve by not only endowing them with gifts, but with limitations as well. No animal is perfect, not even a dragon, and they must live within their limitations to survive. What happens when two different, intelligent creatures, such as humans and dragons are thrust together? You’ll have to read A Cold Fire to find out.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>How many average-sized adult sheep do you think the dragons in your story would have to consume per day?<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Everything has to eat to survive. Humans are omnivores, we eat a bit of everything. Some creatures eat only plants, and plants consume nutrients and sunlight. There are bacteria on this planet that consume things that we wouldn’t normally even think of as food, such as atmospheric gases, and even electricity. So it would follow that dragons have to eat too. My dragons eat like a human would, consuming meats, fruits and vegetables – on a little bit larger scale. While the average human needs about 1,800 calories a day to survive, one of my dragons needs closer to 130,000, or roughly two adult sheep.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>The dragons in your story are shapeshifters. In many shapeshifter stories, people lose their humanity while in their animal forms; werewolf tales are a well-known example of this. Do your dragons retain all aspects of their humanity when in dragon form?<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Regardless of their physical form, whether it is the cold-blooded reptilian dragon, or the warm-blooded human, my shapeshifters remain intelligent and reasonable, capable of complex thought and careful decision making. Whether or not they will use those skills, well, that’s a different story.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Are you fond of films like </i>Dragonslayer<i> that depict dragons as mindless, violent animals, or do you prefer your dragons with a bit more intelligence and, perhaps, kindness?</i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">My favorite dragon movie is <i>Reign Of Fire</i>, a post-apocalyptic story where the dragons are the tormentors and human-kind has been hunted to near extinction. The movie stars some very kick-ass fire-breathing dragons, Christian Bale (before he lost it) and a buff, tattooed Matthew McConaughey.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">* * *</span></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">To check out <i>A Cold Fire&nbsp;</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">plus five more dragon tales, get your copy of&nbsp;</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">A Plague of Dragons</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">! It's just 99 cents for a limited time!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Kindle:&nbsp;<a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr31" target="_blank">http://smarturl.it/mkr31</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Nook:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/2lninBX" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lninBX</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Kobo:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/2lpb3F9" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lpb3F9</a><br /><span style="text-indent: 0in;">iBooks:</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://apple.co/2lluWuf" style="text-indent: 0in;" target="_blank">http://apple.co/2lluWuf</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mF3sQWMwtJc/WOKV-kqCWwI/AAAAAAAABis/rjbtZhfdv-AxIznCk8XaA39j7qebEarLgCPcB/s1600/Plague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BAD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mF3sQWMwtJc/WOKV-kqCWwI/AAAAAAAABis/rjbtZhfdv-AxIznCk8XaA39j7qebEarLgCPcB/s400/Plague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BAD2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-32505851425576180242017-04-03T11:38:00.000-07:002017-04-03T11:38:15.578-07:00A Plague of Dragons: David Jones<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;">Hello! Today's <i>A Plague of Dragons</i>&nbsp;<span style="text-align: justify;">(</span><a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr31" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Kindle link</a><span style="text-align: justify;">)&nbsp;</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">interview is with <a href="http://djssecretplans.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">David Jones</a>. His story in the anthology, <i>The Sky Hunter</i>, is a sci-fi take on dragons!</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">* * *</span></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;"><i>Tell us a bit about your story.</i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTdGEoA9Ba0/WN_oyCvd2rI/AAAAAAAABiM/hvrRm-Z-n9skV9dwHZTIwdqO2zgOs0xnQCPcB/s1600/A%2BPlague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTdGEoA9Ba0/WN_oyCvd2rI/AAAAAAAABiM/hvrRm-Z-n9skV9dwHZTIwdqO2zgOs0xnQCPcB/s320/A%2BPlague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BSM.jpg" width="198" /></a><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>The Sky Hunter</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> is a sci-fi military story that introduces us to Ilana, a human warrior who was raised by the Ociel, a race of dragon people, on their islands in the sky. Her past is a mystery, even to her, and that’s partly because of the Ociel, so she resents them. Ilana is relatively new to being a Sky Hunter, and wears a special suit of armor called the Aether Suit that allows her to keep up with her fellow warriors. She descends to the surface world, which is absolutely foreign to her, with the intent to fulfill this final mission for the Ociel elders, and then go off on her own. This story essentially blends </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>Metroid</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>Mega Man X</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>Jurassic Park</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">, dragons, and </span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>Little Shop of Horrors</i></span><span style="text-indent: 0in;"> together in really fun ways, and Ilana is by far the strongest, most badass character I’ve written to date.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>Have you written any other dragon stories?</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">The first book I ever wrote is called </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">Onyx The Half Hero Dragon</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">. It’s still unreleased, but it’s a story that I’ve always loved. I’ve grown a lot as a writer since I started work on Onyx, which has had a ridiculously long development history, but I have every intention to release Onyx by the end of the year. Onyx The Half Hero Dragon is a coming of age story about a young bionic dragon who grew up on a mythic island, and was raised by a mechanical engineer named Sheila. They set out to explore the island they live on to hunt down components for a powerful new weapon, and quickly find themselves caught up in war. There's much more to the story, obviously, but I'm not about to spoil everything here.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i><br /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="text-indent: 0in;"><i>Will there be a sequel to </i>The Sky Hunter<i>?</i></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">I would love to write a sequel to </span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The Sky Hunter</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">. Ilana's world is full of possibilities, and even I don't know where she's headed.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">* * *</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-indent: 0in;">To check out&nbsp;</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">The Sky Hunter</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;plus five more dragon tales, get your copy of&nbsp;</span><i style="text-indent: 0in;">A Plague of Dragons</i><span style="text-indent: 0in;">! It's just 99 cents for a limited time!</span></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Kindle:&nbsp;<a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr31" target="_blank">http://smarturl.it/mkr31</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Nook:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/2lninBX" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lninBX</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Kobo:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/2lpb3F9" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lpb3F9</a><br /><span style="text-indent: 0in;">iBooks:</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://apple.co/2lluWuf" style="text-indent: 0in;" target="_blank">http://apple.co/2lluWuf</a></div><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mF3sQWMwtJc/WOKV-kqCWwI/AAAAAAAABik/PeXDjQCEdY4FH1TK-aCGxftzjnZU1lJ7wCLcB/s1600/Plague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BAD2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mF3sQWMwtJc/WOKV-kqCWwI/AAAAAAAABik/PeXDjQCEdY4FH1TK-aCGxftzjnZU1lJ7wCLcB/s400/Plague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BAD2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-29663852037556025412017-04-02T10:46:00.000-07:002017-04-02T10:46:26.864-07:00A Plague of Dragons: Katie Salidas<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">We continue to celebrate the release of <i>A Plague of Dragons</i>&nbsp;(<a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr31" target="_blank">Kindle link</a>) with <a href="http://www.katiesalidas.com/" target="_blank">Katie Salidas</a>!&nbsp;Her story in our anthology&nbsp;is called <i>Molten Heart</i>. Take it away, Katie!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTdGEoA9Ba0/WN_oyCvd2rI/AAAAAAAABiM/hvrRm-Z-n9skV9dwHZTIwdqO2zgOs0xnQCPcB/s1600/A%2BPlague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rTdGEoA9Ba0/WN_oyCvd2rI/AAAAAAAABiM/hvrRm-Z-n9skV9dwHZTIwdqO2zgOs0xnQCPcB/s320/A%2BPlague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BSM.jpg" width="199" /></a>Let’s talk dragons, shall we?</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Why don’t we see many dragons flying around or burning down cities? Probably because they, just like us, have had to grow and adapt with time. Rise beyond the firebreathing image to something a bit more…</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Maybe dragons exist and we just don’t know it. And that is the kind of thinking that led me to dragons as shifters in the story, Molten Heart.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Dragons belong just as much to the human world as we do. And really, calling it the human world might piss them off, because they think we’re a bit irresponsible with the world we’ve taken over. So let’s maybe just stick to calling it earth. It will make life easier on us all. Trust me. Most dragons are good, but piss off the wrong one….</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Anyway. Back on point. Dragons could possibly be the very first breed of shifters. Over time as they grew and adapted with time, maybe they learned how to change forms. All creatures on earth have had to grow and adapt over the years or risk extinction. And though dragons might seem like the king of beasts, there is a greater beast on this earth that strikes fear into the hearts and minds of all creatures who share this planet… man!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Was that too preachy? Sorry. Moving on.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">That leads us to the question of their (the dragons) nature. Are they beasts? Are they thinking and feeling beings. And if the answer to both of those questions is, yes. What is dominant in them and how does it work when they shift between forms?</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">I’d have to answer that with turning it back around on humanity. We’re thinking and feeling beings who act absolutely beastly without shifting into a twenty-foot tall firebreathing creature, so why would a dragon who has the ability to swap forms be any different? In both their impressive drake form and in their tiny (by comparison) human form, the character is the same. Their minds stay intact as well as their ability to reason and understand their surroundings. It is merely their appearance, and fire-proofing, that alters.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Why do they change then, you might ask?</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Well, who doesn’t want to be able to take to the sky? Admit it, if you could sprout wings, you would.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">As far as my dragons are concerned, their drake form is their natural form. They take on the human guise to keep their truth secret from the savage humans who rape and pillage the earth they live on. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Humans are a pretty damn scary race!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">But, that might be giving too much away. Let’s chat about more fun dragon facts, like what they eat.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">My Dragons are actually omnivores (because of their dual forms) but because of their massive size need more protein than their human counterparts. That of course leads to quite a bit of meat consumption. They’ll eat pretty much anything that moves. Sheep, cow, pig, etc… Fish too, for the water variety (the hydras). And when you have a colony of dragons around, there had better be quite a bit of available food.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">How much do they eat? Well, that’s a great question. On the island they live on herd of wild sheep and ponies are pretty prevalent so that is the natural meal of choice for a dragon on the hunt. Bunny en flambé though is a favorite snack. Food is energy for the dragons, not an indulgence. Participating in the circle of life (cue the Lion King music), means that the dragons only take what they need when they need it. Could a dragon glutton himself on six or seven fully grown mountain goats with a side of squirrel every day? Of course they <i>could</i>. But eventually overhunting leads to extinction, and they know that. They are thinking and feeling creatures, remember.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">On average, a male drake will sustain themselves on one meal a day consisting of two to three large prey animals.</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">I know what you’re saying. Dragons are fantasy creatures. They cannot exist in nature. Why are you spending so much time pretending that they’re real?</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">That’s my job. As the author I have think of all the little details and physical attributes necessary to validate my dragons. Even if all of these details do not end up in the final story, the world and character building has to be there first. Laying the foundations so that I can tell you a believable story. Do I think dragons exist? Doesn’t matter. But if for one second, just one, I can make you suspend your belief, then I have done my job!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Hope you enjoy reading <i>Molten Heart</i>!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><div style="text-align: justify;">To check out&nbsp;<i>Molten Heart</i>&nbsp;plus five more dragon tales, get your copy of&nbsp;<i>A Plague of Dragons</i>! It's just 99 cents for a limited time!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Kindle:&nbsp;<a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr31" target="_blank">http://smarturl.it/mkr31</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Nook:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/2lninBX" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lninBX</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Kobo:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/2lpb3F9" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lpb3F9</a><br /><span style="text-indent: 0in;">iBooks:</span><span style="text-indent: 0in;">&nbsp;</span><a href="http://apple.co/2lluWuf" style="text-indent: 0in;" target="_blank">http://apple.co/2lluWuf</a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: &quot;Times New Roman&quot;; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><o:p></o:p></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_fp55Xx7zls/WN_pCBSiXuI/AAAAAAAABiM/wnlQ05Ld_igd1f0M_1seCFYHRRgc05J6ACPcB/s1600/Plague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_fp55Xx7zls/WN_pCBSiXuI/AAAAAAAABiM/wnlQ05Ld_igd1f0M_1seCFYHRRgc05J6ACPcB/s400/Plague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BAD.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><br /></div></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-33069189138805206892017-04-01T10:56:00.001-07:002017-04-01T10:56:27.705-07:00A Plague of Dragons: Alexia Purdy<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Hello, everyone! <i>A Plague of Dragons</i> (<a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr31" target="_blank">Kindle link</a>), an anthology I'm involved with, has just been released. For the next few days I'll be posting interviews and guest posts from my fellow authors!<br /><br />To get things started, here's an interview with <a href="http://www.alexiapurdybooks.com/" target="_blank">Alexia Purdy</a>. Her story is called <i>Lucidium: Rise of the Dragons</i>, and I'll let her tell you a bit about it.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">* * *</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Do you have a favorite dragon from legend, literature or film?</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><b><i></i></b></div><b><i><o:p></o:p></i></b><br /><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rTdGEoA9Ba0/WN_oyCvd2rI/AAAAAAAABiE/1vQ2DXIwsVoIVRBUv1kgWBTaPQ5oZ6ZRACLcB/s1600/A%2BPlague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BSM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rTdGEoA9Ba0/WN_oyCvd2rI/AAAAAAAABiE/1vQ2DXIwsVoIVRBUv1kgWBTaPQ5oZ6ZRACLcB/s320/A%2BPlague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BSM.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">There are two. One is the dragon from <i>The Neverending Story</i>. I always loved the concept of a “luck” dragon and I think I based Catori around this. Though her life has been kind of rough up until this point, she is a catalyst of sorts for those around her, and I think that as time goes on, this will stand out more. The second dragon I admired was the one from the movie <i>Reign of Fire</i>. It scared me and became truly a post-apocalyptic scenario that could frighten anyone about dragons. I loved the way people dealt with the mythical creature and how they survived its wrath. It made more “real world” to me.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Will there be a sequel to </i>Lucidium<i>?<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;">Yes. <i>Lucidium</i> is part one of the story, and I have plans to continue the series in the near future. I don’t have a title for part 2, but I plan to extend part 1 into a novel-length adventure if possible and then put out book 2 of the series. We’ll see how it goes.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Dragons are inherently magical; they cannot exist in nature. That being said, did you give any consideration to natural or physical limitations when you were dreaming up your dragons? Why or why not?<o:p></o:p></i></b></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I did make my dragons smaller than the usual sized dragons you see in the movies. Mine was more the size of Falkor in <i>The Neverending Story</i> for the one reason that I don’t believe that a person can truly shift their body into a much larger mass than their body. I didn’t want them the exact same size, but not gigantic like one would think of when thinking of dragons. Though several times larger than a person, they aren’t that much bigger than an elephant. I think keeping them smaller makes sense and works in my story better than making them huge.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">* * *<br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing">To check out <i>Lucidium</i> plus five more dragon tales, get your copy of <i>A Plague of Dragons</i>! It's just 99 cents for a limited time!</div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Kindle: <a href="http://smarturl.it/mkr31" target="_blank">http://smarturl.it/mkr31</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Nook: <a href="http://bit.ly/2lninBX" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lninBX</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">Kobo: <a href="http://bit.ly/2lpb3F9" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/2lpb3F9</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">iBooks: <a href="http://apple.co/2lluWuf" target="_blank">http://apple.co/2lluWuf</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_fp55Xx7zls/WN_pCBSiXuI/AAAAAAAABiI/EMOOJkeLjU4bv3GqnJxPHs-rTNnRz1V6ACLcB/s1600/Plague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BAD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_fp55Xx7zls/WN_pCBSiXuI/AAAAAAAABiI/EMOOJkeLjU4bv3GqnJxPHs-rTNnRz1V6ACLcB/s400/Plague%2Bof%2BDragons%2BAD.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"><br /></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-29019515627886646282016-12-13T13:42:00.000-07:002016-12-13T13:42:56.267-07:00Free Stories for Newsletter Subscribers!<div style="text-align: justify;">As I mentioned in <a href="http://myriadspheres.blogspot.com/2016/12/new-release-sullivans-fire.html" target="_blank">my post about the release of <i>Sullivan's Fire</i></a>, beginning in 2017, I will be offering free, exclusive stories to my newsletter subscribers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're reluctant about subscribing, please know that I won't be spamming you with weekly announcements. I use my newsletter only to inform readers about new releases and select special offers. And, now, to send you links where you can download free ebook copies of these new, exclusive stories. I hope to send out at least one per quarter.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Some of these stories may never see wider release. Some may eventually see publication, but that wouldn't be for awhile. For now, you'll only be able to get them by signing up. Why not give it a try?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Sign up here:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.michaelkrose.com/newsletter" target="_blank">http://www.michaelkrose.com/newsletter</a><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Note: If you've signed up previously, please do so again. My signup form was apparently not working properly, and not all subscribers were added to the list. Thanks!</div></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-49696833681322535232016-12-09T13:34:00.000-07:002016-12-09T13:34:48.677-07:00New Release: SULLIVAN'S FIRE!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pb5_xKBdHk/WEsU2whlxXI/AAAAAAAABg4/nfmzXFD-GW0CAYoH3qMsaQGoUtZi4LazQCLcB/s1600/Sullivan%2527s%2BFire%2BeBook%2BLQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6pb5_xKBdHk/WEsU2whlxXI/AAAAAAAABg4/nfmzXFD-GW0CAYoH3qMsaQGoUtZi4LazQCLcB/s200/Sullivan%2527s%2BFire%2BeBook%2BLQ.jpg" width="129" /></a>Hello, all! At the beginning of 2016, I decided I would write three new novels for The Sullivan Saga. Here, at the end of the year, the final book has just been released!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Sullivan's Fire</i> brings to a close the story arc begun in <i>Sullivan's Blood</i>. It may not be the ultimate end to Rick Sullivan's story, but it is for the time being. It's available for purchase from Amazon and is currently free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. Check it out here:&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/2g71TvE" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/2g71TvE</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have a lot of things planned for 2017; in fact, I'm nearly finished with the first new novel I'll be releasing next year. More about that will be coming soon!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">One final note: Beginning next year, email subscribers will begin receiving free, <i>exclusive</i> stories! Some might eventually see publication, but that would be a&nbsp;ways down the road.&nbsp;I plan on one per quarter, but you might get a few more if I'm being particularly prolific. You can sign up for the newsletter here:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.michaelkrose.com/newsletter" target="_blank">http://www.michaelkrose.com/newsletter</a>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the meanwhile, thank you for your continued support this year. I wish you all the best for the holiday season!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Michael K. Rose</div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-85348037364437665312016-09-26T09:06:00.000-07:002016-09-26T09:06:03.851-07:00SALE! 9 Novels, 99¢ Apiece!<div style="text-align: justify;">For one week (Monday, September 26 through Sunday, October 2) nine of my novels will be just 99¢ each! This sale includes the five published books of <b>The Sullivan Saga</b>, all three books of <b>The Strange Lands Saga</b> and the stand-alone werewolf novel <i>Provocation</i>. Some of these novels have never before been put on sale, so don't miss out! This sale is valid at Amazon.com and Amazon UK Kindle stores only. Click on the links below to get your copies.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Amazon US Store - All books 99¢ each</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>The Sullivan Saga</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sullivan's War</i> (Book 1) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1tWCPTl" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1tWCPTl</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sullivan's Wrath</i> (Book 2) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/17Z293m" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/17Z293m</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sullivan's Watch</i> (Book 3) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1dv7gJ0" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1dv7gJ0</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sullivan's Blood</i> (Book 4) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1RStLv1" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1RStLv1</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sullivan's Reign</i> (Book 5) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/2aBqKRK" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/2aBqKRK</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>The Strange Lands Saga</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The City Beyond the Sands</i> (Book I) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1t14lQs" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1t14lQs</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Riders of the Red Land</i> (Book II) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1CRhqTD" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1CRhqTD</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Sea Dragons</i> (Book III) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1IHzW3T" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1IHzW3T</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Provocation</i> -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1NoXz01" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1NoXz01</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Amazon UK Store - All books 99 pence each</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>The Sullivan Saga</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sullivan's War</i>&nbsp;(Book 1) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1tWDEvm" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1tWDEvm</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sullivan's Wrath</i>&nbsp;(Book 2) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/16aP6rH" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/16aP6rH</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sullivan's Watch</i>&nbsp;(Book 3) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1hvtv4A" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1hvtv4A</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sullivan's Blood</i>&nbsp;(Book 4) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1ST7Hmu" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1ST7Hmu</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sullivan's Reign</i>&nbsp;(Book 5) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/2awT6iq" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/2awT6iq</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><u>The Strange Lands Saga</u></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The City Beyond the Sands</i>&nbsp;(Book I) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1t14vHC" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1t14vHC</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Riders of the Red Land</i>&nbsp;(Book II) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1EUgcWO" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1EUgcWO</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Sea Dragons</i>&nbsp;(Book III) -&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1Nm7e8J" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1Nm7e8J</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Provocation</i>&nbsp;-&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1RgPYXt" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1RgPYXt</a></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-40297350102464758562016-08-05T10:05:00.000-07:002016-08-05T10:05:09.231-07:00NEW RELEASE: Sullivan's Reign Book 5 of The Sullivan Saga!<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sqgrxEI2Yuc/V6TG1uGyWgI/AAAAAAAABgM/-Jnkzd6R7posEKFyXNcnaTtV1c_6Itg_gCLcB/s1600/Sullivan%2527s%2BReign%2B2016%2BeBook%2BLQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sqgrxEI2Yuc/V6TG1uGyWgI/AAAAAAAABgM/-Jnkzd6R7posEKFyXNcnaTtV1c_6Itg_gCLcB/s200/Sullivan%2527s%2BReign%2B2016%2BeBook%2BLQ.jpg" width="129" /></a><i>Sullivan's Reign</i>, the 5th book of The Sullivan Saga, is here!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Get your Kindle copy at the links below.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Amazon US: <a href="http://amzn.to/2aBqKRK" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/2aBqKRK</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Amazon UK: <a href="http://amzn.to/2awT6iq" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/2awT6iq</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Richard Sullivan has been pulled into a war he doesn’t want to fight. Gareth Finch, the founder of a sinister cult, is not yet finished with his work. To stop him, Sullivan must travel to the violent, corrupt planet of Tritica, where Finch has established himself as a criminal kingpin. As each side battles for supremacy, it will take a final, deadly confrontation between Sullivan and Finch to decide the planet’s fate. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Sullivan's Reign</i> is the fifth novel of The Sullivan Saga. The adventure will conclude this fall in <i>Sullivan's Fire</i>.</div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-27001390412136173202016-04-08T10:55:00.000-07:002016-04-08T10:55:06.167-07:00New Release: Sullivan's Blood, Book 4 of The Sullivan Saga!<div style="text-align: justify;">Hello, all! I am very pleased to announce that after more than two years, Rick Sullivan is back! <i>Sullivan's Blood</i> is the first of three new Sullivan Saga novels I'll be writing this year. You can subscribe to my mailing list to make sure you don't miss any new release announcements. <b><a href="http://myriadspheres.blogspot.com/p/newsletter-signup.html" target="_blank">Click here</a></b> to subscribe.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Sullivan's Blood</i> is available for purchase from Amazon, and Kindle Unlimited members can read it for free! Check it out at the links below!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1RStLv1" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> - <a href="http://amzn.to/1ST7Hmu" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6JZZsEHuQhA/VwfvsXGoxiI/AAAAAAAABfA/edsVGJiD0gM23q9M-hXN2qbpf51uhkXJQ/s1600/Sullivan%2527s%2BBlood%2B2016%2BeBook%2BLQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6JZZsEHuQhA/VwfvsXGoxiI/AAAAAAAABfA/edsVGJiD0gM23q9M-hXN2qbpf51uhkXJQ/s640/Sullivan%2527s%2BBlood%2B2016%2BeBook%2BLQ.jpg" width="412" /></a></div><br />Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-899643395804042732016-02-20T10:34:00.000-07:002016-02-20T10:34:29.311-07:00Kindle Unlimited Subscribers: Read The Sullivan Saga for Free!<div style="text-align: justify;">Hello, all! Due to issues outside of my control, the first book of The Sullivan Saga, <i>Sullivan's War</i>, is no longer available for free to all readers. I am pleased to announce, however, that the entire Sullivan Saga is now free to read for Kindle Unlimited subscribers!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">By entering into this program, I have unfortunately had to remove my books from other retailers, but I believe this is the right decision at this moment. So, any old links you may find to non-Amazon stores will not be valid. However, if you are a Kindle Unlimited subscriber and have not yet read The Sullivan Saga, I would like to invite you to give it a try. This is a particularly good time to start the series, as I am writing three new Sullivan Saga books this year. Details about the first of the new books will be coming very soon! It has already been written, and I am about to begin revisions.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://myriadspheres.blogspot.com/p/the-sullivan-saga.html" target="_blank">Click here</a></b> for descriptions and links to all the books in The Sullivan Saga, or <b><a href="http://amzn.to/1tWCPTl" target="_blank">click here</a></b> to download the first book from Amazon's Kindle store.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Best,</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Michael K. Rose</div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-941890713259657712015-12-13T12:48:00.000-07:002015-12-17T11:20:10.303-07:00New Release: Provocation<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TsQ6Z5ROfkI/Vm3K-Maz61I/AAAAAAAABd8/MfIf_6QJdPM/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TsQ6Z5ROfkI/Vm3K-Maz61I/AAAAAAAABd8/MfIf_6QJdPM/s320/cover.jpg" width="211" /></a>Hello, all! I have released a new novel called <i>Provocation</i>. It is a paranormal werewolf novel, so a bit of a departure from my usual science fiction/adventure fare, but I've been working on it for quite a while now and am very pleased with how it's turned out. You can get it at a special price of 99¢ through Thursday, December 17 at the links below. And keep reading for a bit about the development of the novel!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Provocation</i> - 99¢ Through Dec. 17:</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Amazon US:&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1NoXz01" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1NoXz01</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Amazon UK:&nbsp;<a href="http://amzn.to/1RgPYXt" target="_blank">http://amzn.to/1RgPYXt</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kobo:&nbsp;<a href="http://bit.ly/1TIcqqg" target="_blank">http://bit.ly/1TIcqqg</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Some men should never be provoked….</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Following a vicious attack by a legendary creature, Graham Morgan’s life is forever changed. After a year of struggling with his transformations during the full moon, he is determined to get his affliction under control so he can safely marry the woman he loves. But not everyone knows Graham’s secret, and one friend’s attempt to sabotage his relationship might instead unleash the monster within.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;">***</div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even though I'm mainly a science fiction writer, I've always enjoyed reading stories about the paranormal. As a kid I devoured those books of ghost stories and the hardcover books purporting to tell of strange and unusual happenings. Ghosts, Bigfoot, aliens, demons... I loved all that stuff.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oddly, I never had any experience with the classic Universal horror films until an adult. I always knew about them, but somehow had never seen them. But since discovering them, I have come to love them as well, and my favorite Universal monster is Larry Talbot, the Wolf Man. I suppose what drew me to the character was the fact that he was a generally decent guy who was compelled, through his curse, to do things he did not want to do. Throughout all his appearances in the Universal films, he retains his humanity and seeks only to put an end to his condition, one way or the other.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This character influenced the development of <i>Provocation</i>, but in an unexpected way. I began to wonder what would happen if I started with someone who was a horrible person. How would he react to becoming a werewolf? This horrible person became Graham Morgan, the main character of the book. Throughout the novel I toy with the idea of the external beast replacing the internal beast. It considers the possibility that being bitten might in fact have been the best thing to happen to Graham, all other complications notwithstanding. Becoming a monster might actually make him a better man.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This has yielded a dialogue-heavy, character-driven book, and I think that by the time you reach the ending, the time spent getting to know these characters and watching them develop will make it worthwhile. If you've read my previous work, you know I am generally a relatively tight writer, and I don't like padding a story for the sake of word count. In <i>Provocation</i>, even though there is less action than in my other books, I think that following the initial events during which Graham is bitten, the novel builds in tension and suspense up until the climax. That was my intent, at any rate. I hope I was able to accomplish that to your satisfaction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am proud of this novel, and I struggled with it for almost two years, but I feel the effort has been worthwhile. I hope you enjoy it! As always, reviews are greatly appreciated. And special thanks must go to Alexia Purdy, who read through two drafts for me, offering invaluable advice, and also designed the striking cover!</div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-10530865204346561742015-10-22T09:12:00.000-07:002015-10-22T09:14:56.234-07:00New from Alexia Purdy: The ArcKnight Chronicles<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cK0-vuPnN_I/VikKui6lXkI/AAAAAAAABco/oSgoLZFj3Lo/s1600/ArcKnight%2Bchronicles%2Bsm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cK0-vuPnN_I/VikKui6lXkI/AAAAAAAABco/oSgoLZFj3Lo/s200/ArcKnight%2Bchronicles%2Bsm.jpg" width="136" /></a>My good friend Alexia Purdy has just released a new paranormal novel. Check it out!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Vengeance is the only thing worth dying for.</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /><b>Only love can save you.</b><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Teaming up with a handsome shifter named Ephrem, the banished Princess Lilliana must find her stolen Ardent talisman before a sinister enemy uses it against both rival wolf pack strongholds. Thrown onto a path neither of them expected, they stumble across a third cell of supernatural shifters lurking in the city’s Outlands where tensions mount. These new strangers want nothing more than to disrupt the two royal strongholds, the ArcKnights and the MarkTiers, and reignite a long-forgotten feud from decades past. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the treacherous City of Temple where supernaturals and humans intertwine, only the most cunning will survive. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The ArcKnight Chronicles</i> collects books 1 &amp; 2, of the series, <i>Ardent</i> &amp; <i>MarkTier</i>. Just 99 cents for a limited time!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Amazon: <a href="http://smarturl.it/ArcKnightChronicles" target="_blank">http://smarturl.it/ArcKnightChronicles</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ibooks: <a href="http://smarturl.it/ArcKnightIbooks" target="_blank">http://smarturl.it/ArcKnightIbooks</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Kobo: <a href="https://goo.gl/ghgjTA" target="_blank">https://goo.gl/ghgjTA</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Nook: <a href="http://smarturl.it/ArcKnightNook" target="_blank">http://smarturl.it/ArcKnightNook</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Smashwords: <a href="http://smarturl.it/ArcKnightSW" target="_blank">http://smarturl.it/ArcKnightSW</a></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-29461625732873561672015-01-30T10:59:00.000-07:002015-02-02T17:52:37.869-07:00NEW RELEASE: RIDERS OF THE RED LAND<div style="text-align: justify;">Hello, all!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Book II of The Chronicles of Dushara is now available. Just like Book I, it's packed full of action and adventure as well as more clues about the history of Dushara.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div style="text-align: justify;">War has come to Dushara.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IsmEVvSSD5M/VDMO-_UocdI/AAAAAAAABZk/Rssx-I2ctbE/s1600/RIDERS%2BeBook%2BCover%2BCanvas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IsmEVvSSD5M/VDMO-_UocdI/AAAAAAAABZk/Rssx-I2ctbE/s1600/RIDERS%2BeBook%2BCover%2BCanvas.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a>Under the orders of a cruel new tyrant named Silva, the Indian city of Thanjavur has launched an attack against the Arabs. Hoping to find clues that might lead him home, Will Kelly and his companions decide to travel with the Arab army as it sets out to meet the enemy, despite being outnumbered and unprepared.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As members of a resistance movement plot in Thanjavur and a displaced band of Old West outlaws fight their way through hostile territory, the tide of the war begins to turn. With battle after battle, Will and his friends draw ever closer to Thanjavur but also to one inescapable truth: victory may come at a terrible price.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Riders of the Red Land</i> is the second book of The Chronicles of Dushara, a fast-paced adventure series written in the spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard. The story will continue this summer in <i>The Sea Dragons</i>.</div></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Begin reading <i>Riders of The Red Land</i> on your Kindle:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1CRhqTD" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1EUgcWO" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">And, if you've yet to read the first book, <i>The City Beyond the Sands</i>, you can find it here:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1t14lQs" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1t14vHC" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></b>&nbsp;</div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-61590805003166812342015-01-01T10:49:00.001-07:002015-01-01T11:02:15.039-07:002015 Projects<div style="text-align: justify;">Every new year I try to plan my upcoming projects. I'm not always successful at enacting those plans, but if you'd like a possible glimpse of things to come, look no further!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the end of January, <i>Riders of the Red Land</i>, the second book in The Chronicles of Dushara, is set to be released.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">April will see the release of the third Chronicles of Dushara novel. This book will bring an end to the main storyline of the series. Any further books set in Dushara will most likely be stand-alone stories and may even follow new characters. I'll know more about where to take the series once the third book is finished.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">In July, I hope to release a fourth book in The Sullivan Saga. Those of you who've read the series so far know that at the end of book three, Rick Sullivan was beginning a new phase of his life. This book will jump ahead about a year and rejoin Rick and Kate as they pick up the pieces following the events of the first three books.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I would like to release one more novel in 2015, around October or November. I have several ideas as to what this may be, but I have not made any firm decisions. I also have several short stories either outlined or begun that I hope to finish this year. Some I would like to release as eBooks, others I will be submitting to the various speculative fiction magazines.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the blog front, I would like to revitalize Spaceship Urff. It languished after a single issue last year--entirely my own fault, of course--and instead of using an issue format, I think I will continue it on an article-by-article basis. I have another blog set to go called To Unknown Lands. Its focus will be adventure fiction as opposed to speculative fiction.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, my 101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing series will be retitled 101 Thoughts on Indie Publishing and moved to its own blog. Stay tuned for more information on that!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Here's wishing you all the best in the new year!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Michael K. Rose</div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-49713630381924920662014-11-26T11:19:00.000-07:002014-11-26T11:23:52.833-07:00Black Friday-Cyber Monday Sale on The Sullivan Saga - Free & 99¢ eBooks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wCRUvHLGXds/VHYXOi3Vl9I/AAAAAAAABaE/JxN5aZSW6zE/s1600/Black%2BFriday%2BAd%2BBlog%2BPost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wCRUvHLGXds/VHYXOi3Vl9I/AAAAAAAABaE/JxN5aZSW6zE/s1600/Black%2BFriday%2BAd%2BBlog%2BPost.jpg" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hello, all! I'm pleased to announce that eBook versions of all three books of The Sullivan Saga will be 99¢/99p from Nov. 27 through Dec. 01! Additionally, <i>Sullivan's War</i>, the first book of the series, will be free Nov. 29 and Nov. 30. Click on the links below to get your copies!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Sullivan's War&nbsp;</i>(Book 1)&nbsp;- <i>Free</i> Nov. 29-30, 99¢ all other dates</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1tWCPTl" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1tWDEvm" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Sullivan's Wrath </i>(Book 2) - 99¢ Nov. 27-Dec. 01</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/17Z293m" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/16aP6rH" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><i>Sullivan's Watch </i>(Book 3) - 99¢ Nov. 27-Dec. 01</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1dv7gJ0" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1hvtv4A" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, the short story "Sleep," which takes place in the same universe as The Sullivan Saga, will be <b><i>free</i></b> on <b>Sunday, Nov. 30</b>:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1pMfTbH" target="_blank">Amazon US</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><a href="http://amzn.to/1psRaa6" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note: the 99¢/99p sales on <i>Sullivan's Wrath </i>and <i>Sullivan's Watch</i> only apply to the Amazon.com and Amazon UK stores. <i>Sullivan's War</i> will be free in all international Amazon stores Nov. 29-30 and is just 99¢ (or your country's equivalent) all other dates.</span></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-77316989162917076072014-10-26T11:32:00.000-07:002014-10-26T11:34:48.205-07:00101 Thoughts on Self-Publishing -- 017: Write that Completely Unmarketable Story<div style="text-align: justify;">In the past, I've often thought about sales trends. There are a few genres of fiction that really seem to sell. Just take a look at Amazon's best sellers, and you'll see what I mean: it's dominated by thrillers and romance novels.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For a while, I worried that I was working in poor-selling genres. I thought about writing a straight thriller, with no speculative elements at all, but every time I do consider it, I can never get excited by the idea. There's nothing wrong with thrillers, of course, and my books have many elements of the thriller in them, but a real-world setting doesn't get my creative juices flowing the way a future world or an alternate reality can. When it comes down to it, if I try to force myself to write in a genre or style that doesn't work for me as a writer just because I think it would sell, I don't feel I'd be happy with the results.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Lately, I've been writing and brainstorming a few short story ideas. Some of them are a bit oddball, but the truth is they get me excited about writing. Maybe no one will want to read them. Maybe, if they are published, no one will like them. But that really doesn't matter.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Writers have to acknowledge financial considerations. This is a business. You might be compelled to write a twelve-novel story arc about a guy trying to find his lost sock, but if you hope to make some money as a writer, well, you might want to have some side projects. That being said, you should try writing that story idea that seems completely unmarketable. <b><a href="http://myriadspheres.blogspot.com/2013/02/101-thoughts-on-self-publishing-003.html" target="_blank">Try out some short stories</a></b> if you're worried about spending all that time on something that might not go anywhere. Yes, writing is a business, but passion and creativity are the driving forces behind that business. Without those things, fiction cannot exist. People read because they want to feel your passion, to lose themselves in the world you've created.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wherever your passion and creativity lead, you must follow. If you're lucky, you'll end up with something marketable. If you don't... well, you're a writer. Every word that skips from your fingertips is another turn of the grindstone, sharpening the tools of your trade. They'll cut that much more cleanly the next time you sit down to work.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">If you're enjoying the series so far and would like a single page to bookmark, I'll be adding each of my 101&nbsp;Thoughts&nbsp;on Self-Publishing&nbsp;<b><a href="http://myriadspheres.blogspot.com/p/101-thoughts-on-self-publishing.html" target="_blank">here</a></b>. Also be sure to subscribe by email (see the box in the sidebar) to be automatically notified about my new posts.<br /><br />Look for <i>The Sock</i>, an epic tale of loss and acceptance,&nbsp;in the Spring of 2015.</div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-81915570481680807012014-09-16T16:49:00.000-07:002014-09-16T16:49:14.995-07:00Top 3 Twitter Tricks to Annoy People Into Buying Your Book<div style="text-align: justify;">Twitter. It's amazing how much one can fit into 140 characters, but are you using those characters correctly? No one will buy your book unless they're forcefully instructed to do so. Yes, it's true, by annoying other Twitter users, you will see an increase in sales, follows and RTs. For those of you who haven't quite figured out how to maximize your ability to piss people off, here are 3 simple tricks that you can start using today! (Note: these tips are for authors, but with a little creativity, anyone with something to sell can take advantage of these ideas!)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div><b>1. Send spammy Tweets directly to other Twitter users!</b></div><div><br /></div><div>It's easy to Tweet about your book and hope others who follow you and are interested in that book will check it out, but unless you're Tweeting about your book twenty or thirty times an hour (that one's free!) then you're not maximizing your potential to be a pain in the ass! What you have to do instead is send Tweets about your book directly to other Twitter accounts. This way you know people will see your Tweets, because it'll show up right in their notifications along with relevant communications from their friends. But don't stop at just one or ten. Send out a stream of hundreds of such Tweets to different Twitter users. It doesn't even matter if they follow you or you follow them! Send them your spammy Tweets anyway! In fact, this is better, because if they followed you already, they'd have already known about and bought your book.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>2. Set up an auto-DM to tell people about your book when they follow you.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>This is even better than Tip 1 because since they followed you, of course they want to buy your book. Sending out an auto-DM pretty much assures an instant book sale. Think about it: if 20 people follow you in one day, you'll sell 20 books! Ca-Ching!</div><div><br /></div><div><b>3. Demand that others RT you/follow you back.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Getting people to follow you is hard. If you've been stuck at 2001 follows for several months, it might be time to start being a bit more forceful. Sending something like "I just followed you. Follow me back!" helps make sure others will follow you, care about your book and buy it. Another good trick is to tell people that you'll RT them if they RT you. This can be combined with Tip 1 if you have enough characters left. After all, who wouldn't jump at the chance to get someone with 150 followers RTing them? Those 150 people have already bought your book, of course, so now you can get your social media empire working for others! It's just the generous thing to do.</div><div><br /></div><div>Remember: no one will buy your book unless you annoy them about it. Start using these three tricks today, and you'll be guaranteed to exponentially boost your sales overnight!</div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4056652857722842516.post-34037069111699356102014-08-14T19:23:00.000-07:002014-08-15T08:37:10.793-07:00New Release: THE CITY BEYOND THE SANDS!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Book I of The Chronicles of Dushara is here!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Just 99¢ through Monday, August 18</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4EYqD4h1iMc/U-1uZpJ5GKI/AAAAAAAABY4/1mUDjg8kHXs/s1600/cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4EYqD4h1iMc/U-1uZpJ5GKI/AAAAAAAABY4/1mUDjg8kHXs/s1600/cover.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a>When Will Kelly arrives in Dushara, he can tell he’s no longer on Earth. It may look like Earth, but people and animals from across history have been thrown together by some unknown force.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">He soon embarks upon a perilous journey, hoping to reach the legendary City Beyond the Sands which, if it exists, may hold clues to the mystery of Dushara and ultimately lead him home. Along the way, he will have to learn how to survive in a cruel land where men live—and often die—by the sword.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The City Beyond the Sands</i> is the first book of The Chronicles of Dushara, a thrilling, fast-paced adventure series set on a parallel Earth and written in the spirit of Edgar Rice Burroughs and Robert E. Howard. The story will continue in <i>Riders of the Red Land</i>, due out October/November of 2014.<br /><br />Get your copy of <i>The City Beyond the Sands</i> during this special 99¢ release sale! The sale will only last through Monday, August 18.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>The City Beyond the Sands</i>&nbsp;is Available at:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1t14lQs" target="_blank">Amazon US</a>&nbsp;-&nbsp;</span></b><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://amzn.to/1t14vHC" target="_blank">Amazon UK</a></span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>and all other Amazon Kindle stores</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Michael K. Rosehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03128433159545304223noreply@blogger.com0